Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by cashman

Dunno but was the owd guy n eastern european or summat?

It used to be a pub called the Prince of Wales.
The chap was I refered to with then pork pie hat,
I was led to believe that he was a WW1 vet who suffered from shell shock.
When we were kids we did'nt realise what was wrong with them.
I came into contact with a few over the years until
the mid 1960's, its impossible to imagine what it must have been like to be tormented like that, for over 40 years after WW1 ended, unable to speak properly, trembling all the time and the fear of a sharp noise, and no counselling, no proper social services, or help like todays pampered lot.

Retlaw.

[cashman]

know what ya mean retlaw, used to work in 70s wi n owd polish guy,who lived oer arrod or rishton way, if a plane flew oer he used to dive flat on floor of the yard, yeh don't understand how rough it was when yer young.

[Atarah]

I have been in touch with "Owd Bert" and he has kindly loaned me a coloured photo from a few years back, which I can share with Accywebbers. I wish I could visualise all of Pitt Street, but I cant. I have read that the higher part of the street was blocked by houses which formed almost a cul-de-sac but connected with Birtwistle Street by a passage which went by the name of the "Mouse Trap". Here was The Prince of Wales hotel, kept at one time by a William Mitchell. (The one from Owd Bert will help you visualise the area of town we are discussing). It is said that William M. once went out to Australia during the gold rush. There is supposedly a street named after him in Melbourne (wonder if there still is?). After returning to Accrington (hopefully, rich!) he became host of the hotel. Any Mitchells tracing their family tree? He could be related!

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Atarah

I have been in touch with "Owd Bert" and he has kindly loaned me a coloured photo from a few years back, which I can share with Accywebbers. I wish I could visualise all of Pitt Street, but I cant. I have read that the higher part of the street was blocked by houses which formed almost a cul-de-sac but connected with Birtwistle Street by a passage which went by the name of the "Mouse Trap". Here was The Prince of Wales hotel, kept at one time by a William Mitchell. (The one from Owd Bert will help you visualise the area of town we are discussing). It is said that William M. once went out to Australia during the gold rush. There is supposedly a street named after him in Melbourne (wonder if there still is?). After returning to Accrington (hopefully, rich!) he became host of the hotel. Any Mitchells tracing their family tree? He could be related!

If you look at the old maps, you can see where they demolished the end house on Higher Pitt St and two houses in Birtwistle St to make it a through street to connect with Hargreaves St.
Think it was done just before WW1.
The picture which shows the Prince of Wales still standing, also shows the remains of Bunny's Back along side.

Retlaw.

[JEFF]

The rear of the buildings in picture 2, is this the rear of Abbey Street ?

[BERNADETTE]

Originally Posted by JEFF

The rear of the buildings in picture 2, is this the rear of Abbey Street ?

Yes it is

[cashman]

Originally Posted by JEFF

The rear of the buildings in picture 2, is this the rear of Abbey Street ?

yeh should remember that view mate, i do n you lived nearer. the owd chap lived in that large house.

[JEFF]

Originally Posted by cashman

yeh should remember that view mate, i do n you lived nearer. the owd chap lived in that large house.

Brain doesn't function as quick as it used to and it's difficult to visualise when most of it has been knocked down.

[JEFF]

Do you remember the buildings in picture 1 Cashy - you are older than me.

[robharding]

My Mum was born at 45 Pitt St in 1947, i'll show her this when i see her at the weekend, see what she remembers.

[SuziQ]

My great-uncle Wilfred Burton lived with his wife Esther on Pitt Street. He died in 1956.